System and Method for Communicating an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) Frame Format

ABSTRACT

An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) frame communicated over a 20 MegaHertz (MHz) channel may include eight 26-tone resource units (RUs), one 26-tone bifurcated RU, and a direct current (DC) region. The eight 26-tone RUs may include twenty-six consecutive data and pilot tones, and the bifurcated 26-tone RU may be split into two 13-tone portions each of which include thirteen consecutive data and pilot tones. The DC region may include seven null tones. In one example, the DC region of the 20 MHz MU-OFDMA frame consists of three DC tones and four null-data tones.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/006,776 filed on Jan. 26, 2016, and entitled “System and Method forCommunicating an Orthogonal Frequency Division,” which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/107,936 filed on Jan. 26,2015, which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and method for wirelesscommunications, and, in particular, to a system and method forcommunicating an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frameformat.

BACKGROUND

Next generation Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) will be deployed inhigh-density environments that include access points (APs) providingwireless access to large numbers of stations (STAs) in the samegeographical area. It is desirable for next generation WLANs tosimultaneously support various traffic types having diverse quality ofservice (QoS) requirements, because mobile devices are increasingly usedto access streaming video, mobile gaming, and other services.

SUMMARY

Technical advantages are generally achieved, by embodiments of thisdisclosure which describe a system and method for communicating anorthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame format.

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for communicating data isprovided. In this example, the method includes transmitting anorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame. The OFDMAframe includes a first set of data and pilot tones, a second set of dataand pilot tones, and a direct current (DC) region positioned between thefirst set of data and pilot tones and the second set of data and pilottones. The DC region consisting of seven null tones that exclude dataand pilot signaling. An apparatus for performing this method is alsoprovided.

In accordance with another embodiment, another method for communicatingdata is provided. In this example, the method includes receiving anorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame. The OFDMAframe includes a first set of data and pilot tones, a second set of dataand pilot tones, and a direct current (DC) region positioned between thefirst set of data and pilot tones and the second set of data and pilottones. The DC region consisting of seven null tones that exclude dataand pilot signaling. The method further includes decoding at least aportion of the OFDMA frame. An apparatus for performing this method isalso provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a WiFi network for communicating data;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment frame structure for an orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) frame;

FIG. 3A is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a Multi-UserOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) frame (MU-OFDMA)frame communicated over a 20 MegaHertz (MHz) channel;

FIG. 3B is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a Single-User OFDMAframe (SU-OFDMA) frame communicated over a 20 MHz channel;

FIG. 4A is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a MU-OFDMA framecommunicated over a 40 MHz channel;

FIG. 4B is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a SU-OFDMA framecommunicated over a 40 MHz channel;

FIG. 5A is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a MU-OFDMA framecommunicated over an 80 MHz channel;

FIG. 5B is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a SU-OFDMA framecommunicated over an 80 MHz channel;

FIG. 6A is a diagram of another embodiment tone plan for a MU-OFDMAframe communicated over an 80 MHz channel;

FIG. 6B is a diagram of another embodiment tone plan for a SU-OFDMAframe communicated over an 80 MHz channel;

FIG. 7 illustrates embodiment tone plans for a 20 MHz OFDMA frame;

FIG. 8 illustrates embodiment tone plans for a 40 MHz OFDMA frame;

FIG. 9 illustrates embodiment tone plans for 80 MHz OFDMA and SU frames;

FIG. 10 illustrates additional embodiment tone plans for 80 MHz OFDMAand SU frames;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment processing system; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment a transceiver.

Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generallyrefer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures aredrawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments andare not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood at the outset that although an illustrativeimplementation of one or more embodiments are provided below, thedisclosed systems and/or methods may be implemented using any number oftechniques, whether currently known or not. The disclosure should in noway be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, andtechniques illustrated below, including the designs and implementationsillustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scopeof the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11acdefines a WLAN protocol for communicating data over 2.5 GigaHertz (GHz)and 5 GHz carrier frequencies, and may be capable of supportingaggregate throughput rates of up to 6.77 Gigabits per second (Gits/s).Even higher throughput rates may be needed to satisfy the performancegoals of next-generation WLANs. As a result, IEEE 802.11ax is beingdeveloped as an extension to IEEE 802.11ac with a goal of providing upto 10 GBits over the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz carrier frequencies.

Embodiment tone plans for communicating Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (OFDMA) frames over 20 Megahertz (MHz), 40 MHz, and 80MHz channels are provided herein. One or more of the embodiment toneplans may be adopted by IEEE 802.11ax. In one embodiment, a Multi-UserOFDMA (MU-OFDMA) frame is communicated over a 20 MHz channel. A MU-OFDMAframe may carry multiple data streams in different resource units (RUs)to one or more receiving devices. The 20 MHz MU-OFDMA frame may includeeight 26-tone resource units (RUs), one 26-tone bifurcated RU, and adirect current (DC) region. The eight 26-tone RUs include twenty-sixconsecutive data and pilot tones, and the bifurcated 26-tone RU is splitinto two 13-tone portions each of which include thirteen consecutivedata and pilot tones. The DC region may include seven null tones. In oneexample, the DC region of the 20 MHz MU-OFDMA frame consists of three DCtones and four null-data tones. Null tones are tones that exclude data,pilot, and control signaling, such as DC tones, guard tones, and/ornull-data tones (e.g., data tones that have been re-purposed as nulltones). Null tones may be positioned in-between adjacent RUs in an OFDMAframe to mitigate inter-symbol interference in-between the respectivedata streams carried by the adjacent RUs. Null tones may also bepositioned in-between adjacent carriers (e.g., in an edge region) tomitigate inter-carrier interference and to protect RUs near the edgeregion from distortion due to transmission filtering and other effects.The eight 26-tone RUs, as well as the respective 13-tone portions of thebifurcated RU, are be distributed over two data and pilot regions, andthe DC region is positioned in-between those data and pilot regions. Inparticular, four of the 26-tone RUs and one 13-tone portion of thebifurcated RU may be positioned in one data and pilot region; and theremaining four 26-tone RUs, as well as the other 13-tone portion of thebifurcated RU, may be positioned in the other data and pilot region.Each of the data and pilot regions may be positioned in-between the DCregion and a corresponding edge region. One of the edge regions mayinclude a pair of null-data tones and six guard tones. The other edgeregion may include a pair of null-data tones and five guard tones.

In another embodiment, a MU-OFDMA frame is communicated over an 80 MHzchannel. The 80 MHz MU-OFDMA frame includes thirty-six 26-tone RUs, one26-tone bifurcated RU, and a DC region consisting of seven DC tones. TheRUs may be distributed over two inner-most data and pilot regions andtwo outer-most data and pilot regions. In one example, nine of the26-tone RUs and one 13-tone portion of the bifurcated RU are positionedin each of the inner-most data and pilot regions; and nine of the26-tone RUs are positioned in each of the outer-most data and pilotregions. The DC region may be positioned in-between the inner-most dataand pilot regions, and each one of the outer-most data and pilot regionsmay be positioned in-between a respective one of the inner-most data andpilot regions and a corresponding edge region. One of the edge regionsmay include a set of eight null-data tones and twelve guard tones. Theother edge region may include a set of eight null-data tones and elevenguard tones. In some embodiments, a set of eight null-data tones ispositioned in-between each inner-most data region and the correspondingouter-most data and pilot region. In such embodiments, the 80 MHzMU-OFDMA frame may carry thirty-six null-data tones.

In another embodiment, a Single User OFDMA (SU-OFDMA) frame iscommunicated over an 80 MHz channel. A SU-OFDMA frame may carry a singledata stream to a receiving device. In one example, the 80 MHz SU-OFDMAframe includes 994 data and pilot tones, a 26-tone bifurcated RU, andseven DC tones. The 994 data and pilot tones are distributed over twoinner-most data and pilot regions and two outer-most data and pilotregions. The two inner-most data and pilot regions each carry 242consecutive data and pilot tones and one 13-tone portion of thebifurcated RU. The two outer-most data and pilot regions each carry 242consecutive data and pilot tones. Similar to the 80 MHz MU-OFDMA frame,the DC region in the 80 MHz SU-OFDMA frame may be positioned in-betweenthe inner-most data and pilot regions. Each one of the outer-most dataand pilot regions in the 80 MHz SU-OFDMA frame may be positionedin-between a respective one of the inner-most data and pilot regions anda corresponding edge region. One of the edge regions may include twelveguard tones, and the other edge region includes eleven guard tones.These and other aspects are described in greater detail below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network 100 for communicating data. The network 100comprises an access point (AP) 110 having a coverage area lot, aplurality of mobile stations 120, and a backhaul network 130. As shown,the AP 110 establishes uplink (dashed line) and/or downlink (dottedline) connections with the mobile stations 120, which serve to carrydata from the mobile stations 120 to the AP 110 and vice-versa. Datacarried over the uplink/downlink connections may include datacommunicated between the mobile stations 120, as well as datacommunicated to/from a remote-end (not shown) by way of the backhaulnetwork 130. As used herein, the term “access point (AP)” refers to anycomponent (or collection of components) configured to provide wirelessaccess to a network, such as an enhanced base station (eNB), amacro-cell, a femtocell, a Wi-Fi access point (AP), or other wirelesslyenabled devices. APs may provide wireless access in accordance with oneor more wireless communication protocols, e.g., Wi-Fi802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, long term evolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A),High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), etc. As used herein, the term “mobilestation” refers to any component (or collection of components) capableof establishing a wireless connection with an AP, such as a station(STA), a user equipment (UE), and other wirelessly enabled devices. Insome embodiments, the network 100 may comprise various other wirelessdevices, such as relays, low power nodes, etc.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment frame structure for a downlink (DL)OFDM frame 200. As shown, the downlink OFDM frame 200 includes a legacyshort training field (L-STF)/long training field (LTF) 201, a legacysignaling field (L-SIG)/repeated legacy (RL) SIG field 202, a highefficiency (HE) first signal (SIGA) field 204, a HE second signal (SIGB)field 206, a HE-STF/LTF field 208, and a data payload field 210.Scheduling index information is embedded in the SIGB field 206. Theindex information associates identifiers (IDs) assigned to individualSTAs or groups of STAs, with starting or ending positions for subsets ofassigned RUs in a sequence of RUs carried by the OFDM frame. Forexample, the scheduling index information may indicate a leading RUand/or trailing RU in a subset of RUs allocated to a STA, and may enablethe STA to locate the subset of allocated RUs upon receiving the frame.

FIG. 3A is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a MU-OFDMA frame 301that is communicated over a 20 MHz channel. As shown, the MU-OFDMA frame301 includes eight 26-tone RUs 310, two portions 311, 312 of abifurcated 26-tone RU, null-data tones 320, and DC tones 330. In thisexample, three DC tones 330 and four null-data tones 320 are included ina DC region 350. Four of the 26-tone RUs 310 and one portion 311 of thebifurcated RU are included in the data and pilot region 381, and four ofthe 26-tone RUs 310 and the remaining portion 312 of the bifurcated RUare included in the data and pilot region 382. The DC region 350 ispositioned in-between the data and pilot region 381 and the data andpilot region 382. Two of the null-data tones 320 are included in an edgeregion 391 and two of the null-data tones 320 are positioned in an edgeregion 392. Additionally, six guard tones 340 are included in the edgeregion 391, and the five guard tones 340 are included in the edge region392. In some embodiments, the guard tones 340 are included within the 20MHz channel over which MU-OFDMA frame 301 is transmitted. In otherembodiments, the guard tones 340 tones that are outside the 20 MHzchannel over which the ME-OFDMA frame 301 is transmitted.

FIG. 3B is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a SU-OFDMA frame 302that is communicated over a 20 MHz channel. As shown, the SU-OFDMA frame302 includes data and pilot regions 315, 316 and DC tones 330. In thisexample, the data and pilot regions 315, 316 each include one-hundredand twenty-one consecutive data and pilot tones. The DC tones 330 arepositioned in-between the data and pilot regions 315, 316. The data andpilot region 315 is positioned in-between six guard tones 340 and the DCtones 330. The data and pilot region 316 is positioned in-between the DCtones 330 and five guard tones 340. In some embodiments, the guard tones340 are included within the 20 MHz channel over which the SU-OFDMA frame302 is transmitted. In other embodiments, the guard tones 340 arepositioned outside the 20 MHz channel over which the SU-OFDMA frame 302is transmitted.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide tone plans for OFDMA framescommunicated over 40 MHz channels. FIG. 4A is a diagram of an embodimenttone plan for a MU-OFDMA frame 401 that is communicated over a 40 MHzchannel. As shown, the MU-OFDMA frame 401 includes eighteen 26-tone RUs410, null-data tones 420, and DC tones 430. Five DC tones 430 and eightnull-data tones 420 are included in a DC region 450. Nine of the 26-toneRUs 410 are included in a data and pilot region 481, and nine of the26-tone RUs 410 are included in a data and pilot region 482. The DCregion 450 is positioned in-between the data and pilot region 481 andthe data and pilot region 482. Four null-data tones 420 are included inan edge region 491, and four null-data tones 420 are included in an edgeregion 492. Additionally, twelve guard tones 440 are included in theedge region 491, and the eleven guard tones 440 are included in the edgeregion 492. In some embodiments, the guard tones 440 are included withinthe 40 MHz channel over which the MU-OFDMA frame 401 is transmitted. Inother embodiments, the guard tones 440 tones are outside the 40 MHzchannel over which the MU-OFDMA frame 401 is transmitted.

FIG. 4B is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a SU-OFDMA frame 402that is communicated over a 40 MHz channel. As shown, the SU-OFDMA frame402 includes data and pilot regions 415, 416 and DC tones 430. In thisexample, the data and pilot regions 415, 416 each include two-hundredand forty-two consecutive data and pilot tones. The DC tones 430 arepositioned in-between the data and pilot regions 415, 416. The data andpilot region 415 is positioned in-between twelve guard tones 440 and theDC tones 430. The data and pilot region 416 is positioned in-between theDC tones 430 and eleven guard tones 440. In some embodiments, the guardtones 440 are included within the 40 MHz channel over which the SU-OFDMAframe 402 is transmitted. In other embodiments, the guard tones 440tones are outside the 40 MHz channel over which the SU-OFDMA frame 402is transmitted.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide tone plans for OFDMA framescommunicated over 80 MHz channels. FIG. 5A is a diagram of an embodimenttone plan for a MU-OFDMA frame 501 that is communicated over an 80 MHzchannel. As shown, the MU-OFDMA frame 501 includes 26-tone RUs 510,portions 511, 512 of a bifurcated 26-tone RU, null-data tones 520, andfive DC tones 530. In this example, the 26-tone RUs 510 and the portions511, 512 of the bifurcated RU are distributed over four data and pilotregions 581, 582, 583, 584. In particular, the data and pilot region 581includes nine 26-tone RUs 510 and one portion 511 of the bifurcated RU,and the data and pilot region 582 includes nine 26-tone RUs 510 and theremaining portion 512 of the bifurcated RU. The four data and pilotregions 583, 584 each include nine 26-tone RUs 510. The DC region 550 ispositioned in-between the data and pilot region 581 and the data andpilot region 582. The data and pilot region 581 is positioned in-betweenthe DC region and the data and pilot region 584, and the data and pilotregion 582 is positioned in-between the DC region and the data and pilotregion 583. The data and pilot region 584 is positioned in-between thedata and pilot region 581 and an edge region 591, and the data and pilotregion 583 is positioned in-between the data and pilot region 582 and anedge region 592. Because of their relative positioning with respect toone another, the data and pilot regions 581, 582 may be referred toherein as the inner-most data and pilot regions of the MU-OFDMA frame501, and the data and pilot regions 583, 584 may be referred to hereinas the outer-most data and pilot regions of the MU-OFDMA frame 501.Eight null-data tones 520 are included in an edge region 591, and eightnull-data tones 520 are included in an edge region 592. Additionally,thirteen guard tones 540 are included in the edge region 591, and twelveguard tones 540 are included in the edge region 592. In someembodiments, the guard tones 540 are included within the 80 MHz channelover which the MU-OFDMA frame 501 is transmitted. In other embodiments,the guard tones 540 tones are outside the 80 MHz channel over which theMU-OFDMA frame 501 is transmitted. Eight null-data tones 520 arepositioned in-between the data and pilot region 581, 584. Similarly,eight null-data tones 520 are positioned in-between the data and pilotregion 582, 583.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a SU-OFDMA frame 502that is communicated over an 80 MHz channel. As shown, the SU-OFDMAframe 502 includes data and pilot regions 515, 516, 517, 518, portions511, 512 of a bifurcated 26-tone RU, and five DC tones 530. In thisexample, the data and pilot regions 515, 516, 517, 518 each includetwo-hundred and forty-two consecutive data and pilot tones. The five DCtones 530 are positioned in-between the data and pilot regions 515, 516.The data and pilot regions 515, 518 are positioned in-between twelveguard tones 540 and the DC tones 530. The data and pilot region 516, 517are positioned in-between the DC tones 530 and eleven guard tones 540.In some embodiments, the guard tones 540 are included within the 80 MHzchannel over which the SU-OFDMA frame 502 is transmitted. In otherembodiments, the guard tones 540 tones are outside the 80 MHz channelover which the SU-OFDMA frame 502 is transmitted.

FIG. 6A is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a MU-OFDMA frame 601that is communicated over an 80 MHz channel. The RUs 610, 611, 612,tones 620, 630, 640, and regions 650, 681, 682, 683, 684, 691, 692 inthe MU-OFDMA frame 601 have similar arrangements and configurations tolike components/regions of the MU-OFDMA frame 501, except that the DCregion 650 includes seven DC tones 630, the edge region 691 includestwelve guard tones 640, and the edge region 692 includes eleven guardtones 640.

FIG. 6B is a diagram of an embodiment tone plan for a SU-OFDMA frame 502that is communicated over an 80 MHz channel. The data and pilot regionsin the SU-OFDMA frame 602 have similar arrangements and configurationsto like components/regions of the SU-OFDMA frame 502, except that the DCregion 650 includes seven DC tones 630, as well as that there are twelveguard tones 640 positioned outside of the data and pilot region 618 andeleven guard tones 640 positioned outside of the data and pilot region617.

Aspects of this disclosure provide embodiment frame formats for use in awireless environment such as an Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.11ax network. Embodiments provide tone plans forthe orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) resource units(RUs) for 20 MHz, 40 MHz, and 80 MHz OFDMA transmissions. An embodimentat 20 MHz includes 6 null tones on one edge of an orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) frame, 5 null tones on the other edge ofthe OFDM frame, and three null tones in a direct current (DC) region. Anembodiment OFDM frame for 40 MHz has 242×2=484 data and pilot tonesgrouped in RUs, with additional null tones in the DC region and on theedges. Single user (SU) frames are scheduled for a single user.Multi-user OFDMA frames can be scheduled for multiple users. In otherembodiments, for 80 MHz OFDM transmission, there are either 5 null tonesin the DC region or 7 null tones in the DC region. In anotherembodiment, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, and 80 MHz OFDMA tone plans use 26-tone RUs,and 20 MHz SU scheduling uses 242-tone RUs. The OFDMA or SU frame may bea downlink frame or an uplink frame.

In an embodiment OFDM frame, there are 8 leftover tones within each 242tone block. Leftover tones may be used as separators between differentRUs, especially smaller size RUs, to reduce leakage from adjacentblocks. Additional null tones near the edge may be used for protectionfrom pulse shaping filters, adjacent blockers, etc. No data istransmitted on the leftover tones, DC tones, or edge tones. That is,leftover tones, DC tones, and edge tones are all null tones. Leftovertones may be adjacent to edge tones, in which case the number of nulltones near the edge is equal to the sum of the number of edge tones andthe number of leftover tones adjacent to the edge tones. Also, leftovertones may be adjacent to the DC tones, in which case the number of nulltones in the DC region is equal to the sum of the number of DC tones andthe number of leftover tones adjacent to the DC region. Edge tones mayalso be known as guard tones.

There are several factors which may be considered in determining toneplans and RU allocation. RUs may be aligned between 20 MHz, 40 MHz, and80 MHz frame configurations. Null tones in the DC regions and null tonesat the edges may be allocated based on spectral mask and carrierfrequency offset (CFO) requirements to protect tones in RUs near theedge tones and the DC tones. Other considerations in determining toneplans and RU allocations include the utilization of leftover tones, forexample, to align the RUs and protect tones in RUs near DC tones andedge tones. Edge tones, DC tones, and leftover tones are null tones, andare not used for transmitting data or pilots.

Distortion may affect tones in RUs near the edges of OFDMA frames moresignificantly than tones in RUs near the edges of SU frames. In oneexample, the tone plans used for both SU frames and OFDMA frames aresimilar. Alternatively, the tone for SU frames and OFDMA frames aredifferent. In one example, additional null tones are used in OFDMAframes to provide additional protection for RUs near the edge and in theDC region. Thus, an OFDMA frame may have more null tones near the edgeand null tones in the DC region compared to an SU frame. Null tones nearthe edge are positioned at the edges of the transmission bands as guardtones to mitigate the effect of transmission filtering on the data andpilot tones. Null tones in the DC region are empty subcarriers (i.e.subcarriers that do not carry data/information) that are used by mobiledevices to locate the center of the OFDM frequency band.

Embodiments provide tone plans for 40 MHz and 80 MHz OFDM frames. Insome embodiments, 5 DC tones are used, for example with 40 ppm CFO. Inother embodiments, for example with 80 MHz, 7 DC tones or 5 DC tones maybe used. In various embodiments, the null tones are utilized to alignthe RUs and to protect tones near the DC region and the edge.

In an embodiment 40 MHz tone plan there are 2 242-tone RUs containingdata and pilot tones, and 28 tones allocated for null tones in the DCregion and null tones near the edge. In one example, there are 5 nulltones in the DC region and [12,11] null tones near the edges. Thenotation [A, B] denotes A edge tones on one edge of an OFDM frame and Bedge tones on the other edge of the OFDM frame. In an embodiment 80 MHztone plan, there are [13,12] null tones near the edges and 5 null tonesin the DC region. In another embodiment 80 MHz tone plan, there are[12,11] null tones near the edges and 7 null tones in the DC region.There may be 994 tones for data, pilots, and leftover tones. In oneembodiment, the tone plan is the same for SU frames and OFDMA frames.Alternatively, the tone plan for SU frames is different than the toneplan for OFDMA frames.

Before frames are transmitted, transmission filtering may be performed.The transmission filter may be based on the spectral mask. Leftovertones may be used to protect RUs near null tones at the edges and nulltones in the DC region.

In OFDMA, different RUs are allocated to different STAs. Any number ofRUs may be allocated for a particular STA. Each STA estimates thechannel and recovers the entire message. The signaling field is used byeach STA to determine which RU(s) are allocated to that particular STA.

FIG. 7 illustrates a tone plan 740 for a 20 MHz OFDMA frame. There are atotal of 242 data, pilot, and leftover tones. Leftover tones are usedfor the protection of RUs near the DC tones and edge tones, to increasethe number of null tones in the DC region and the number of null tonesnear the edges. A leftover tone used to protect the RUs near the DCtones increases the number of null tones in the DC region. Also, aleftover tone used to protect the RUs near the edge tones increases thenumber of null tones near the edges. DC tones, edge tones, and leftovertones are all null tones. The tones in RUs 744 include data and pilottones, and the tones 746, 747, and 742 are the leftover tones, which arenull tones. Pilot tones may be distributed throughout the RUs in thetones in RUs 744. The separate pilot tones carried by an RU may be usedto adjust or estimate the phase and/or frequency offsets of data tonescarried in the RU. For example, in an uplink OFDMA frame carrying RUstransmitted by different STAs, the pilot tones carried in the respectiveRUs may be used by a serving AP to perform residual carrier frequencyoffset estimation on the uplink OFDMA frame. There are 234 data andpilot tones, including the 8 26-tone RUs 744 and the 26-tone RU 745 thatis split into 13 tones on each side of the null tones in the DC region743. There are 8 leftover tones, which are used to protect RUs near edgetones and DC tones. Two of the leftover tones 742 are used on each sideof the DC tones 748. The two leftover tones 746 are placed adjacent tothe 6 edge tones 749, for 8 null tones near the edge 747. Also, the twoleftover tones 746 are adjacent to the 5 edge tones 749 for 7 null tonesnear the edge 747.

FIG. 8 illustrates tone plans 850 for a 40 MHz transmission for OFDMAand SU frames. There are 484 tones for data, pilot, and leftover tones,and 28 tones for DC and edge tones. Tone plans 850 includes the OFDMAtone plan 870 and the SU tone plan 872. The tones in the OFDMA tone plan870 are sent to or received from multiple STAs. The tones in the SU toneplan 872 are sent to or received from a single STA.

The SU tone plan 872 includes the 5 DC tones 852. The 5 DC tones 852 areincluded in a DC region. On each side of the DC tones 852 is a 242-toneRU 864. Each 242-tone RU includes 4 pilot tones and 238 data tones. Oneedge includes 12 edge tones 866. The other edge includes 11 edge tones868.

RUs and leftover tones of the OFDMA tone plan 870 are aligned with RUsof the SU tone plan 872. The OFDMA tone plan 870 includes 5 DC tones852. Four leftover tones 854 are on each side of the DC tones 852 for 13null tones in the DC region 853 to protect the RUs near the null tonesin the DC region 853. On one edge there are 12 edge tones 860. Fourleftover tones 856 are adjacent to edge tones 860 for 16 null tones nearthe edge 16. On the other edge are 11 edge tones 862 and four leftovertones 857 adjacent to the edge tones 862 for 15 null tones near the edge863. The 468 data and pilot tones are distributed over 18 26-tone RUs.Nine of the 26-tone RUs are positioned on each side of the DC region853. Each 26-tone RU includes 2 pilot tones and 24 data tones.

FIG. 9 illustrates the 80 MHz tone plans 950 for OFDMA and SU frames.There are 994 data, pilot, and leftover tones, and 30 DC and edge tones.The tone plans 950 include the OFDMA tone plan 979 and the SU tone plan978. The tones in the OFDMA tone plan 979 are sent to or received frommultiple STAs. The tones in the SU tone plan 978 are sent to or receivedfrom a single STA. The RUs for the OFDMA tone plan 979 are aligned withthe RUs of the SU tone plan 978.

The SU tone plan 978 contains 5 DC tones 966. The RU 968 is split intotwo 13-tone portions. The five DC tones 966 are positioned in-betweenthe respective 13-tone portions of the RU 968. The tones in RU 970include two sets of 242-tone RUs on each side, for 4 242-tone RUs. 13edge tones 974 are at one edge and 12 edge tones 975 are at the oppositeedge.

RUs, DC tones, and edge tones of the OFDMA tone plan 979 are alignedwith RUs, DC tones, and edge tones of the SU tone plan 978,respectively. There are 262 pilot and data tones in the OFDMA tone plan979, grouped into 37 26-tone RUs. The OFDMA tone plan 979 includes 5 DCtones 952, which are aligned with DC tones 966. There are a total of 5null tones in the DC region. Also, the OFDMA tone plan 979 includes 13edge tones 964. 8 leftover tones 962 are adjacent to the edge tones 964,for a total of 21 null tones at the edge 963. Also, OFDMA tone plan 979contains 12 edge tones 965. The leftover tones 963 are adjacent to theedge tones 965, for a total of 20 null tones near the edge 967. The26-tone RU 954 is split by DC tones 952, with 13 tones on each side ofDC tones 952. There are four sets of 9 26-tone RUs 960, 956, 957, and961. The leftover tones include the tones 962, 958, 959, 963. The tones958 and 959 are between sets of 9 26-tone RUs.

FIG. to illustrates 80 MHz tone plans 1080 for OFDMA frames and SUframes. There are 294 data, pilot, and leftover tones, and 30 DC andedge tones. The tone plans 1080 include the OFDMA tone plan 1006 and theSU tone plan 1008. The tones in the OFDMA tone plan 1006 are sent to orreceived from multiple STAs. The tones in the SU tone plan 1008 are sentto or received from a single STA. The RUs, DC tones, and edge tones ofthe OFDMA tone plan 1006 are aligned with the RUs, DC tones, and edgetones of the SU tone plan 1008, respectively.

The SU tone plan 1008 contains 7 DC tones 1096. There are a total of 7null tones in the DC region. Also, the RU 1098 includes two 13-toneportions. The DC tones 1096 are positioned in-between the respective13-tone portions of the RU 1098. The RUs 1000 include two sets of242-tone RUs on each side of the DC tones 1096 and the RU 1098. 12 edgetones 1002 are at one edge, for a total of 12 null tones at that edge,and 11 edge tones 1004 are at the opposite edge, for 11 null tones atthat edge.

The OFDMA tone plan 1006 is aligned with the SU tone plan 1008. Thereare a total of 37 26-tone RUs in the OFDMA tone plan 1006. The OFDMAtone plan 1006 includes 7 DC tones 1082, for a total of 7 null tones inthe DC region. Also, the OFDMA tone plan 1006 includes 12 edge tones1094 and 11 edge tones 1095. The leftover tones include four sets ofeight tones 1092, 1088, 1089, and 1093. The 8 tones 1092 are adjacent toedge tones 1094, for 20 null tones at the edge 1093. Also, 8 leftovertones 1093 are adjacent to edge tones 1095, for 21 null tones at theedge 1097. The tones 1088 and the tones 1089 are between sets of 926-tone RUs. The 26 tones 1084 include 13 tones on each side of the DCtones 1082. There are four sets of 9 26-tone RUs 1090, 1086, 1087, and1091

In another embodiment, there are a total of 37 26-tone RUs. One of the26-tone RUs may be used for scheduling STAs.

Additional examples may include different sized RUs. For example, RUsmay contain 26 tones, 52 tones, 106 tones, 242 tones, or another numberof tones.

For a downlink frame based on the signaling field of the frame, thereceiver determines which RUs are scheduled for that STA. The receivermay perform CFO estimation using the pilots. Residual frequency offsetcompensation may include estimating a carrier frequency offset based ondedicated pilots carried in OFDMA transmission.

Embodiments include tone plans for 40 MHz and 80 MHz OFDMAtransmissions. In one embodiment, the OFDMA tone plan is the same as orsimilar to the SU tone plan. Alternatively, the OFDMA tone plan isdifferent than the SU tone plan. In an embodiment, there are 5 DC tonesfor 40 ppm CFO. In an embodiment, 26-tone RUs for OFDMA frames arealigned with 242-tone RUs for SU frames, and one RU does not overlap theposition of another RU. In an embodiment, leftover tones are utilized toalign RUs and protect tones near DC tones and edge tones. In anembodiment, one 26-tone RU is used for scheduling in 80 MHz.

FIG. 11 a block diagram of an embodiment processing system 1100 forperforming methods described herein, which may be installed in a hostdevice. As shown, the processing system 1100 includes a processor 1104,a memory 1106, and interfaces 1110-1114, which may (or may not) bearranged as shown in FIG. 11. The processor 1104 may be any component orcollection of components adapted to perform computations and/or otherprocessing related tasks, and the memory 1106 may be any component orcollection of components adapted to store programming and/orinstructions for execution by the processor 1104. In an embodiment, thememory 1106 includes a non-transitory computer readable medium. Theinterfaces 1110, 1112, 1114 may be any component or collection ofcomponents that allow the processing system 1100 to communicate withother devices/components and/or a user. For example, one or more of theinterfaces 1110, 1112, 1114 may be adapted to communicate data, control,or management messages from the processor 1104 to applications installedon the host device and/or a remote device. As another example, one ormore of the interfaces 1110, 1112, 1114 may be adapted to allow a useror user device (e.g., personal computer (PC), etc.) tointeract/communicate with the processing system 1100. The processingsystem 1100 may include additional components not depicted in FIG. 11,such as long term storage (e.g., non-volatile memory, etc.).

In some embodiments, the processing system 1100 is included in a networkdevice that is accessing, or part otherwise of, a telecommunicationsnetwork. In one example, the processing system 1100 is in a network-sidedevice in a wireless or wireline telecommunications network, such as abase station, a relay station, a scheduler, a controller, a gateway, arouter, an applications server, or any other device in thetelecommunications network. In other embodiments, the processing system1100 is in a user-side device accessing a wireless or wirelinetelecommunications network, such as a mobile station, a user equipment(UE), a personal computer (PC), a tablet, a wearable communicationsdevice (e.g., a smartwatch, etc.), or any other device adapted to accessa telecommunications network.

In some embodiments, one or more of the interfaces 1110, 1112, 1114connects the processing system 1100 to a transceiver adapted to transmitand receive signaling over the telecommunications network. FIG. 12illustrates a block diagram of a transceiver 1200 adapted to transmitand receive signaling over a telecommunications network. The transceiver1200 may be installed in a host device. As shown, the transceiver 1200comprises a network-side interface 1202, a coupler 1204, a transmitter1206, a receiver 1208, a signal processor 1210, and a device-sideinterface 1212. The network-side interface 1202 may include anycomponent or collection of components adapted to transmit or receivesignaling over a wireless or wireline telecommunications network. Thecoupler 1204 may include any component or collection of componentsadapted to enable bi-directional communication over the network-sideinterface 1202. The transmitter 1206 may include any component orcollection of components (e.g., up-converter, power amplifier, etc.)adapted to convert a baseband signal into a modulated carrier signalsuitable for transmission over the network-side interface 1202. Thereceiver 1208 may include any component or collection of components(e.g., down-converter, low noise amplifier, etc.) adapted to convert acarrier signal received over the network-side interface 1202 into abaseband signal. The signal processor 1210 may include any component orcollection of components adapted to convert a baseband signal into adata signal suitable for communication over the device-side interface(s)1212, or vice-versa. The device-side interface(s) 1212 may include anycomponent or collection of components adapted to communicatedata-signals between the signal processor 1210 and components within thehost device (e.g., the processing system 1100, local area network (LAN)ports, etc.).

The transceiver 1200 may transmit and receive signaling over any type ofcommunications medium. In some embodiments, the transceiver 1200transmits and receives signaling over a wireless medium. For example,the transceiver 1200 may be a wireless transceiver adapted tocommunicate in accordance with a wireless telecommunications protocol,such as a cellular protocol (e.g., long-term evolution (LTE), etc.), awireless local area network (WLAN) protocol (e.g., Wi-Fi, etc.), or anyother type of wireless protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, near fieldcommunication (NFC), etc.). In such embodiments, the network-sideinterface 1202 comprises one or more antenna/radiating elements. Forexample, the network-side interface 1202 may include a single antenna,multiple separate antennas, or a multi-antenna array configured formulti-layer communication, e.g., single input multiple output (SIMO),multiple input single output (MISO), multiple input multiple output(MIMO), etc. In other embodiments, the transceiver 1200 transmits andreceives signaling over a wireline medium, e.g., twisted-pair cable,coaxial cable, optical fiber, etc. Specific processing systems and/ortransceivers may utilize all of the components shown, or only a subsetof the components, and levels of integration may vary from device todevice.

Although several embodiments have been provided in the presentdisclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems andmethods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examplesare to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and theintention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example,the various elements or components may be combined or integrated inanother system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.

In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled orcommunicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicatingthrough some interface, device, or intermediate component whetherelectrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes,substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in theart and could be made without departing from the spirit and scopedisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method implementing orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access (OFDMA) communication according to Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standardcomprising: transmitting a downlink or uplink frame; wherein the IEEE802.11ax standard adopts one or more tone plan which comprises a firstset of data and pilot tones, a second set of data and pilot tones, and adirect current (DC) region positioned between the first set of data andpilot tones and the second set of data and pilot tones, the first set ofdata and pilot tones and the second set of data and pilot tonescomprising at least one of following resource units (RUs), 26-tone RUs,52-tone RUs and 106-tone RUs, and the tone plan further comprises aleftover tone positioned between at least two RUs in the RUs of the toneplan.
 2. The method of claim 1, the tone plan further comprises a firstedge region and a leftover tone positioned between the first edge regionand the first set of data and pilot tones; and, the tone plan furthercomprises a second edge region and a leftover tone positioned betweenthe second set of data and pilot tones and the second edge region. 3.The method of claim 1, the tone plan further comprises a leftover tonepositioned between the first set of data and pilot tones and the DCregion; and, the tone plan further comprises a leftover tone positionedbetween the DC region and the second set of data and pilot tones.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, when the tone plan is a tone plan of 80 MHz channel,the first set of data and pilot tones consists of eighteen 26-tone RUsand the first thirteen tones of a bifurcated 26-tone RU; and, the secondset of data and pilot tones consists of eighteen 26-tone RUs and theremaining thirteen tones of the bifurcated 26-tone RU.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, when the tone plan is a tone plan of 40 MHz channel, the firstset of data and pilot tones consists of nine 26-tone RUs; and, thesecond set of data and pilot tones consists of nine 26-tone RUs.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, when the tone plan is a tone plan of 20 MHz channel,the first set of data and pilot tones consists of four 26-tone RUs andthe first thirteen tones of a bifurcated 26-tone RU; and, the second setof data and pilot tones consists of four 26-tone RUs and the remainingthirteen tones of the bifurcated 26-tone RU.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein no data or pilots are transmitted on leftover tones.
 8. A methodimplementing orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)communication according to Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standard comprising: receiving a downlink oruplink frame; and, decoding the downlink or uplink frame; wherein theIEEE 802.11ax standard adopts one or more tone plan which comprises afirst set of data and pilot tones, a second set of data and pilot tones,and a direct current (DC) region positioned between the first set ofdata and pilot tones and the second set of data and pilot tones, thefirst set of data and pilot tones and the second set of data and pilottones comprising at least one of following resource units (RUs), 26-toneRUs, 52-tone RUs and 106-tone RUs, and the tone plan further comprises aleftover tone positioned between at least two RUs in the RUs of the toneplan.
 9. An apparatus implementing orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) communication according to Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standardcomprising: a processor; and a computer readable storage medium storingprogramming for execution by the processor, the programming includinginstructions to: transmit a downlink or uplink frame; wherein the IEEE802.11ax standard adopts one or more tone plan which comprises a firstset of data and pilot tones, a second set of data and pilot tones, and adirect current (DC) region positioned between the first set of data andpilot tones and the second set of data and pilot tones, the first set ofdata and pilot tones and the second set of data and pilot tonescomprising at least one of following resource units (RUs), 26-tone RUs,52-tone RUs and 106-tone RUs, and the tone plan further comprises aleftover tone positioned between at least two RUs in the RUs of the toneplan.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, the tone plan further comprises afirst edge region and a leftover tone positioned between the first edgeregion and the first set of data and pilot tones; and, the tone planfurther comprises a second edge region and a leftover tone positionedbetween the second set of data and pilot tones and the second edgeregion.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, the tone plan further comprises aleftover tone positioned between the first set of data and pilot tonesand the DC region; and, the tone plan further comprises a leftover tonepositioned between the DC region and the second set of data and pilottones.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, when the tone plan is a tone planof 80 MHz channel, the first set of data and pilot tones consists ofeighteen 26-tone RUs and the first thirteen tones of a bifurcated26-tone RU; and, the second set of data and pilot tones consists ofeighteen 26-tone RUs and the remaining thirteen tones of the bifurcated26-tone RU.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, when the tone plan is a toneplan of 40 MHz channel, the first set of data and pilot tones consistsof nine 26-tone RUs; and, the second set of data and pilot tonesconsists of nine 26-tone RUs.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, when thetone plan is a tone plan of 20 MHz channel, the first set of data andpilot tones consists of four 26-tone RUs and the first thirteen tones ofa bifurcated 26-tone RU; and, the second set of data and pilot tonesconsists of four 26-tone RUs and the remaining thirteen tones of thebifurcated 26-tone RU.
 15. The apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 6,wherein no data or pilots are transmitted on leftover tones.
 16. Anapparatus implementing orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA) communication according to Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standard comprising: a processor;and a computer readable storage medium storing programming for executionby the processor, the programming including instructions to: receive adownlink or uplink frame; and, decode the downlink or uplink frame;wherein the IEEE 802.11ax standard adopts one or more tone plan whichcomprises a first set of data and pilot tones, a second set of data andpilot tones, and a direct current (DC) region positioned between thefirst set of data and pilot tones and the second set of data and pilottones, the first set of data and pilot tones and the second set of dataand pilot tones comprising at least one of following resource units(RUs), 26-tone RUs, 52-tone RUs and 106-tone RUs, and the tone planfurther comprises a leftover tone positioned between at least two RUs inthe RUs of the tone plan.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, the tone planfurther comprises a first edge region and a leftover tone positionedbetween the first edge region and the first set of data and pilot tones;and, the tone plan further comprises a second edge region and a leftovertone positioned between the second set of data and pilot tones and thesecond edge region.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, the tone plan furthercomprises a leftover tone positioned between the first set of data andpilot tones and the DC region; and, the tone plan further comprises aleftover tone positioned between the DC region and the second set ofdata and pilot tones.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16, when the tone planis a tone plan of 80 MHz channel, the first set of data and pilot tonesconsists of eighteen 26-tone RUs and the first thirteen tones of abifurcated 26-tone RU; and, the second set of data and pilot tonesconsists of eighteen 26-tone RUs and the remaining thirteen tones of thebifurcated 26-tone RU.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein no data orpilots are transmitted on leftover tones.